THE CATEGORICAL

SYLLOGISM
Michael Jhon M. Tamayao, M.A.
Phil.
LOGIC
College of Medical Technology
Cagayan State University

Topics
I.

INTRODUCTION
Review of
categorical
propositions

III.

II.

RULES FOR
MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISMS
The 10 rules

IV.

THE STANDARD
FORMS OF A VALID
CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
Figures
Moods
The Valid Forms of
Categorical
Syllogisms
SUMMARY

Objectives

At the end of the discussion, the

participants should have:

Acquainted themselves with the rules for

making valid categorical syllogisms.
Understood what is meant by mood, figure,
& form.
Acquainted themselves with the valid forms
of categorical syllogisms.
Acquired the abilities to make a valid
categorical syllogism.

I. INTRODUCTION

TYP
E

Review of the Categorical

Propositions:
FORM

QUANTIT
Y

QUALITY

DISTRIBUTION
Subject
Predicate

All S is P

Universal Affirmative

Distributed
Undistributed

No S is P

Universal Negative

Distributed
Distributed

Some S is P

Particular Affirmative

Undistributed
Undistributed

Some S is not
P

Particular Negative

Undistributed
Distributed

I. INTRODUCTION

What is a categorical syllogism?

It is kind of a mediate deductive

argument, which is composed of three
standard form categorical propositions
that uses only three distinct terms.
Ex.
All politicians are good in rhetoric.
All councilors are politicians.
Therefore, all councilors are good in
rhetoric.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
1. A valid categorical syllogism only
SYLLOGISMS

has three terms: the major, the

minor, and the middle term.

Major Term
1

MIDDLE TERM
2

MinorTerm
3

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Ex.
SYLLOGISMS

All politicians are sociable people.

All councilors are politicians.
Therefore, all councilors are sociable
people.

Sociable
People
(Major Term)

Politicians
(Middle Term)

Councilors
(Minor Term)

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISMS
Sociable
People
Politician
s
Councilors

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
The major term is predicate of the
SYLLOGISMS
conclusion. It appears in the Major Premise

(which is usually the first premise).

The minor term is the subject of the
conclusion. It appears in the Minor Premise
(which is usually the second premise).
The middle term is the term that
connects or separates other terms
completely or partially.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
2. Each term of a valid categorical
SYLLOGISMS
syllogism must occur in two
propositions of the argument.

Ex.
All politicians are sociable people.
All councilors are politicians.
Therefore, all councilors are sociable people.

Politicians occurs in the first and second premise.

Sociable People occurs in the first premise and
conclusion.
Councilors occurs in the second premise and
conclusion.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISMS
Sociable
Politicians
People

First Premise

(Major Term)

Sociable
People
(Major Term)

Councilors
Second Premise

(Middle Term)

Politicians
Conclusion
(Middle
Term)

(Minor Term)

Councilors
(Minor Term)

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
3. In a valid categorical syllogism, a
SYLLOGISMS
major or minor term may not be

universal (or distributed) in the

conclusion unless they are universal (or
distributed) in the premises.
Each & every
Some
X
Y
Each & every
Z

Some
X

Each & every

Z

Some
Y

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
4. The middle term in a valid
SYLLOGISMS

categorical syllogism must be

distributed in at least one of its
occurrence.

Ex.
Some animals are pigs.
All cats are animals.
Some cats are pigs.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Some animals are pigs.
There is a
SYLLOGISMS
All cats are animals.
possibility
Some cats are pigs.

Cats

ALL
Animals
Some Some
animals animals

that the middle

term is not the
same.

Pigs

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Some gamblers are
There is a
SYLLOGISMS
cheaters.
possibility
Some Filipinos are
gamblers.
Some Filipinos are ALL Gamblers
cheaters.

Filipinos

Some
Some
gamblers gamblers

that the middle

term is not the
same.

Cheaters

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
5. In a valid categorical syllogism, if
SYLLOGISMS

both premises are affirmative, then

the conclusion must be affirmative.

Ex.
All risk-takers are gamblers.
(A)
Some Filipinos are gamblers.
(I)
Some Filipinos are risk-takers. (I)

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Ex.
SYLLOGISMS
All gamblers are risk-takers.
(A)

Some Filipinos are gamblers.

Some Filipinos are risk-takers.
Risk-takers
All
gamblersFilipinos

(I)
(I)

Some Filipinos
who are gamblers.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
6. In a valid categorical syllogism, if
SYLLOGISMS

one premise is affirmative and the

other negative, the conclusion
must be negative

Ex.
No computer is useless.
(E)
All ATM are computers.
(A)
No ATM is useless.
(E)

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
7. No valid categorical proposition
SYLLOGISMS

can have two negative premises.

Ex.

No country is leaderless.
(E)
No ocean is a country.
(E)
No ocean is leaderless.
(E)

m No possible
relation.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
8. At least one premise must be
SYLLOGISMS

universal in a valid categorical

syllogism.

Ex.

Some kids are music-lovers.

(I)
Some Filipinos are kids.
(I)
Some Filipinos are music-lovers.

(I)

m No possible
relation.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
9. In a valid categorical syllogism, if
SYLLOGISMS

a premise is particular, the

conclusion must also be particular.

Ex.

All angles are winged-beings.

(A)
Some creatures are angles.
(I)
Some creatures are winged-beings.
(I)

Each & every Some

V
M
Some
m

Some
V

Some
m

Some
M

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
9. In a valid categorical syllogism, if
SYLLOGISMS

a premise is particular, the

conclusion must also be particular.

Ex.

All angles are winged-beings.

(A)
Some
creatures
angles.
All creatures
areare
winged-beings.
(I)
(A)

Each & every Some

V
M
Some
m

Some
V

ALL
m

Some
M

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
10. In a valid categorical syllogism,
SYLLOGISMS
the actual real existence of a subject

may not be asserted in the conclusion

unless it has been asserted in the
premises.

Ex.
This wood floats.
That wood floats.
Therefore, all wood floats.

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
The logical form is the structure of

the categorical syllogism as indicated

by its figure and mood.
Figure is the arrangement of the
terms (major, minor, and middle) of
the argument.
Mood is the arrangement of the
propositions by quantity and quality.

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
FIGURES:
M is P
S is M
S is P

P is M
S is M
S is P

M is P
M is S
S is P

P is M
M is S
S is P

(Figure 1)

(Figure 2)

(Figure 3)

(Figure 4)

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
MOODS:
4 types of categorical propositions (A, E, I, O)
Each type can be used thrice in an
argument.
There are possible four figures.
Calculation: There can be 256 possible forms
of a categorical syllogism.
But only 16 forms are valid.

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
Valid forms for the first figure:
Major Premise
Minor Premise
Conclusion

A
A
A

A
I
I

E
A
E

E
I
I

Simple tips to be observed in the first figure:

1.
The major premise must be universal. (A or
E)
2.
The minor premise must be affirmative. (A
or I)

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
Valid forms for the second figure:
Major Premise
Minor Premise
Conclusion

A
E
E

A
O
O

E
A
E

E
I
O

Simple tips to be observed in the second

figure:
1.
The major premise must be universal. (A or
E)
2.
At least one premise must be negative.

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
Valid forms for the third figure:
Major Premise

Minor Premise

Conclusion

Simple tips to be observes in the third figure:

1.
The minor premise must be affirmative (A or
I).
2.
The conclusion must be particular (I or O).

III. THE STANDARD FORMS OF A

VALID CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
Valid forms for the fourth figure:
Major
Premise

Minor
Premise

Conclusion

Three rules are to be observed:

1.

2.

3.

If the major premise is affirmative, the major

premise must be universal.
If the minor premise is affirmative, the
conclusion must be particular.
If a premise (and the conclusion) is negative, the
major premise must be universal.

SUMMARY

Figure

1
1
1
1

Summarizing all the valid forms, we

have the following table:

Mood

AAA
AII
EAA
EII

Figure

Mood

Figure

Mood

Figure

Mood

2
2
2
2

AEE
AOO
EAE
EIO

3
3
3
3
3
3

AAI
AII
EAO
EIO
IAI
OAO

4
4
4
4
4

AAI
AEE
EAO
EIO
IAI